At Pinefield Glass, no two days look the same behind the scenes. As projects grow in scale and complexity, it’s the experience and quick decision-making of the team that keeps everything moving in the right direction.
Jamie Edwards, Co-Owner and Installation & Technical Director, has been at the centre of that for over 30 years, progressing from the factory floor to leading installation and technical delivery across the business. We spoke to him about his journey, the realities of solving problems at pace and what it takes to keep large-scale projects running smoothly.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey so far?
“I started at 18, straight out of school, and I’ve been in the industry ever since which is around 30 years now. I began on the factory floor and worked my way through different roles, learning every part of the process.
“Over time, I moved into more responsibility running the factory, and eventually into the office around 10 years ago.
“When the opportunity came up to step into a director role, I moved into overseeing installation and technical delivery, particularly across new build projects.”
Is your current role still hands-on?
“Not in the same way it used to be, but I’m still very involved. A big part of my role now is focused on improvement and quality – looking at how we can keep raising standards across installations and avoid issues before they arise.
“If something does come up on site, I’ll usually look at where the snag has come from, how it can be resolved quickly and what we can do to prevent it happening again. Having worked in those roles myself, I can normally spot quite quickly where something may go wrong and help the teams stay ahead of it.”
What’s a lesson you learned early on that still sticks with you?
“Always ask questions. I’d rather someone ask three times and get it right than not ask and get it wrong. That’s something I’ve always stuck by. It saves problems further down the line and makes sure things are done properly.”
What might surprise people about your role?
“Probably how varied it is. I started in a much smaller team where everyone had to do a bit of everything, and although the business is much bigger now, my role still covers a wide range of areas.
“From installation queries and technical support to improving processes and helping remedial teams deal with snags quickly and efficiently, it’s all about keeping projects moving and making sure the finish is right for the customer.”
What’s the biggest challenge in your role?
“People and coordination. When you’re managing installation teams, everything depends on having the right people in the right place at the right time. If someone’s off, it can have a knock-on effect because a lot of what we do is team-based and physically demanding work. It’s just part of it, things are always moving and you have to adapt.”
What does your team do that people might not see?
“A lot of what we do is about getting everything right before and during installation. With new build work especially, everything is pre-glazed and prepared so when the teams arrive on site, it all needs to go in efficiently. People don’t always see the coordination behind that – getting materials ready, organising teams and making sure everything runs to plan on site.”
How has your idea of success changed over time?
“When I started, success was just about getting the job done and improving things bit by bit. Now it’s about scale and efficiency, how much we can deliver, how smoothly it runs and how we keep improving even as the business grows. There are more people, more projects and more moving parts, so success is really about keeping everything working together.”
What excites you most about the future of Pinefield Glass?
“For me, it’s continuing to improve how we work within installation and new build projects.
“It’s about becoming more efficient, reducing small issues and making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible on site. If we can keep improving that, we can keep growing and delivering more without losing quality.”
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
“Turn up, work hard, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
“If you’re not sure, just ask – because it’s always better to get it right than to guess. Listen to people with experience, stay switched on and be consistent. That’s how you learn and progress.”
After more than 30 years in the industry, Jamie’s experience still comes back to the same things: staying hands-on, solving problems quickly and making sure things are done properly. From managing installation teams to supporting complex new build projects, his role reflects the pace, adaptability and technical knowledge that keeps Pinefield Glass delivering at scale.